Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), will participate in the upcoming by-elections despite ongoing political protests. The party’s political committee announced this decision after an emergency late-night meeting on August 20. A majority of the committee members supported contesting the elections. Members argued that opposition parties should not be given a “free field” and instructed preparations to begin for the constituencies where by-elections will be held. The opposition leader in the National Assembly has not yet been finalized. Pakistan’s Election Commission has confirmed that voting for constituencies NA-143, NA-185, and PP-203 will take place on October 5.